The GQ Approach – Laurel July 20

First turf race of the 2018 season at Laurel Park. Photo by Jim McCue, Maryland Jockey Club.

The GQ Approach features full-card selections from Laurel Park for the live summer racing meet, Post Time 1:10pm EDT including a daily Best Bet, Longshot Play, and multi-race wagers — including the 20 cent Rainbow Pick-6, 50 cent Early and Late Pick-5s, as well as Pick-4s and rolling Doubles, Pick-3s and the Super High-5.

#1 – Connemara Coast (6-1): Back class makes this one a player in this spot for trainer Lake

Race 3 is ON THE TURF

*** BEST BET #2 – Sexyama (5-2) ***: Not sure what she was running against — all five to run back have been up the track in their follow-ups — but that was still a good effort for this Cairo Prince filly after bearing out and bumping at the break; clean getaway here helps cause

#5 – Skyphos (6-1): Full sis to graded stakes winner Bucchero, who’s earned over $800k and ran second in a stake on debut; work tab good enough

#7 Varenka (5-1): Six of seven sibs to race have earned at least $90k, including stake winner Lift Up, who’s five-for-five on the lawn

#6 – Don’t Poke the Cat (9-2): Robin Graham trainee was put up via DQ in last after fouling that didn’t involve him removed the winner; second after a bit of a freshening and like to see Prado remain up

#3 – Royal Crusader (4-1): Not sure what to make of two-back race, when he backed out readily, but prior dirt form puts him in the mix here

Race 5 is ON THE TURF

#11 Beltway Bob (6-1): Closing sort won in this condition last out, can repeat here

#9 – Daniel Le Deux (9-2): Didn’t miss by much in season debut and can move forward in second off the bench

#1 – King of All Media (4-1): Big drop from open $25k claimers at CD to this spot, and trainer Mark Reid gets to protect him here

Race 6

#3 — Lost On the Stairs (5-2): Enters with three straight wins vs. lifetime and conditioned foes; one of three from last to run back won in follow-up

#7 – Springtime Wind (6-1): Gets back to preferred surface

#2 – Sazerac Girl (7-2): Infrequent winner drops in class and shifts to main track; even win machine trainer Patterson hasn’t been able to get this mare to the winners circle

Race 7 is ON THE TURF

#13 – Bye Bye Blues (7-2): Speedy type ran a good one in first turf try; loses blinks and draws outside other speed players, suggesting a stalk-and-pounce trip might be the plan

#5 – War Queen (7-2): Sheppard trainee’s run at distances from 1 mile to 2 1/8 miles this year, now finds way to short sprint; note veteran jock Pino lands here

#7 – Sister Says (5-2): Just missed vs. similar two back, and nothing wrong with fourth-place finish in Gilpin; runner-up returned a winner

Race 8

***LONGSHOT PLAY #6 – Contrarity (8-1) ***: Sophomore kept good company as a juvenile; can move forward in second of the season, and major drop may help her find company that fits her better

#7 – Joyful Noise (3-1): Dialing back to short sprint and drop in class both point to improved effort; jockey Boyce returns and has a couple of runner-up efforts with this one

#1 – Scoreearlyandoften (6-1): First try at the level was solid; note that jockey Boyce chooses #7 here over this runner

Race 9

#8 – Pete’s Play Call (3-5): Hard to see a scenario where this one gets beat; ran competitively behind graded stakes sorts in last two, including G3 Maryland Sprint winner Switzerland

#7 – Expedited Vision (6-1): Won in lone dirt try last June; return to action last out was a disappointment at 3-2 odds, but Schoenthal trainee shows a couple of works in the interim, and good to see rider Russell stick around

#1/1A – Cheese On/In Arrears (10-1): Of this Cal Lynch-trained duo, particularly like the 1A In Arrears, who won an open allowance two back and then was beaten less than two in an N2X; winner returned second at higher level

Race 10 is ON THE TURF

#9 — Lilibet (4-1): Makes a two-level drop to MC $25k; last time Rubley trainee faced claiming rivals, she missed by a neck

#10 – Full Faith (12-1): In first try in nearly two years, Jimmy Day trainee rallied to the lead at the eighth before tiring; a little bit tighter here, and with a more patient ride, she could stir things up

#4 – Astrea (8-1): Solid try last out sprinting, and breeding suggests added ground could be a plus (sire Astrology was third in the Preakness); blinks go on

Yesterday’s News

On Friday, July 13 at Laurel had 9 winners from the 10-race card (3 Top Selections; payoff in BOLD).

Top Selections are 240 for 839 (28.61%). In 2017, Top Selections went 340 for 1,197 (28.40%). The payoffs of Sunday’s winners:

R1: $7.80

R2: $6.80

R3: $4.60

R4: $6.20

R5: $9.80

R6: $6.00

R7: $7.40

R8: $4.80

R9: XXX

R10: $4.60

Of the suggested multi-race wagers, hit the race one daily double, which returned $27.80 on a $2 wager (total of $18 wagered).

BEST BET of the Day (86:22-21-8; in 2017 119: 39-25-19) Stamped (5th race: 2-1 M/L; 8-5 PT) was three-wide on both turns, bid between in the lane, but fell a half-length short and settled for the runner-up spot, returning $3.00 to PLACE and $2.40 to SHOW.

LONGSHOT PLAY of the Day (84:11-17-10; in 2017 107: 18-13-15) Speed Gracer (9th race: 9-2 M/L; 3.90-1 PT) raced along the rail and was done on the far turn, finishing sixth.